Abstract: An ophthalmic surgical system 10 detects a change in a viscosity of a material being aspirated from an eye 32. The system 10 includes a control module 18 connected to an aspiration pump 20, and a flow meter 19 connected to the control module 18 and the aspiration pump 20. The flow meter 19 provides a flow rate of material aspirated from the eye 32 by the aspiration pump 20. A surgical handpiece 24 connected to the aspiration pump 20 and the control module 18 is inserted into the eye 32 during surgery. The control module 18, during surgery, detects a step change in the flow rate of material aspirated from the eye 32 and the control module 18 further causes the surgical system 10 to alert a surgeon that a change in viscosity of the material being aspirated has been detected indicating that the handpiece 24 has moved from a material of a first viscosity to a material of a second viscosity.

Abstract: The present invention provides a surgical system 10 for aspiration of a biological material comprising a source of irrigation fluid 20, a collection cassette 30, a pump 40 for creating a vacuum in the collection cassette 30, a handpiece 50 applied to a surgical area for infusing irrigation fluid and for aspirating a biological material, conduits 60 and 62 connecting the handpiece to each of the source of irrigation fluid and the collection cassette and means 70 for isolating the pump from the handpiece to prevent creation of vacuum within the conduit 62 and the collection cassette 30 after receiving a stop signal.

Abstract: The present invention provides a surgical system 10 for aspiration of a biological material comprising a source of irrigation fluid 24, a collection cassette 30, a pump 40 for creating a vacuum in the collection cassette 30, a handpiece 50 applied to a surgical area for infusing irrigation fluid and for aspirating a biological material, conduits 60 and 62 connecting the handpiece to each of the source of irrigation fluid and the collection cassette and means 70 for isolating the pump from the handpiece to prevent creation of vacuum within the conduit 62 and the collection cassette 30 after receiving a stop signal.

Abstract: An ophthalmic surgical system utilizes a needle through which fluid is aspirated from a surgical site, and a sleeve coaxially received over the needle to define a flow passage between the sleeve and needle through which fluid is communicated to the surgical site. The system further includes a container that provides an adjustable infusion pressure for urging the flow of irrigation fluid to the surgical site. An aspiration pump urges aspiration of fluid from the surgical site, and a sensor detects the rate of aspiration flow. A controller is configured to calculate an intraocular eye pressure based on the infusion pressure and a pressure drop due to a resistance to the flow rate, which flow includes the sensed flow rate and a predicted leakage selected from a look-up table based on a size of the needle, a size of a sleeve, and a size of an incision through which the needle and the sleeve are placed.

Abstract: An ophthalmic surgical system 10 detects a change in a viscosity of a material being aspirated from an eye 32. The system 10 includes a control module 18 connected to an aspiration pump 20, and a flow meter 19 connected to the control module 18 and the aspiration pump 20. The flow meter 19 provides a flow rate of material aspirated from the eye 32 by the aspiration pump 20. A surgical handpiece 24 connected to the aspiration pump 20 and the control module 18 is inserted into the eye 32 during surgery. The control module 18, during surgery, detects a step change in the flow rate of material aspirated from the eye 32 and the control module 18 further causes the surgical system 10 to alert a surgeon that a change in viscosity of the material being aspirated has been detected indicating that the handpiece 24 has moved from a material of a first viscosity to a material of a second viscosity.

Abstract: An ophthalmic surgical system utilizes a needle through which fluid is aspirated from a surgical site, and a sleeve coaxially received over the needle to define a flow passage between the sleeve and needle through which fluid is communicated to the surgical site. The system further includes a container that provides an adjustable infusion pressure for urging the flow of irrigation fluid to the surgical site. An aspiration pump urges aspiration of fluid from the surgical site, and a sensor detects the rate of aspiration flow. A controller is configured to calculate an intraocular eye pressure based on the infusion pressure and a pressure drop due to a resistance to the flow rate, which flow includes the sensed flow rate and a predicted leakage selected from a look-up table based on a size of the needle, a size of a sleeve, and a size of an incision through which the needle and the sleeve are placed.

Abstract: The fitment is an elongated connector providing a conduit for aspirant to flow from a pump cartridge to an interior of the collection bag. The connector has a first end configured for attachment to the pump cartridge and a second end for positioning within the interior of the collection bag. The second end also includes at least one notch formed in the connector. The notch acts to prevent the collection bag from sealing off the conduit during surgery so that a sufficient amount of air will remain within the bag to allow a surgeon to air vent an aspiration path during surgery.

Abstract: The present invention provides a surgical system 10 for aspiration of a biological material comprising a source of irrigation fluid 24, a collection cassette 30, a pump 40 for creating a vacuum in the collection cassette 30, a handpiece 50 applied to a surgical area for infusing irrigation fluid and for aspirating a biological material, conduits 60 and 62 connecting the handpiece to each of the source of irrigation fluid and the collection cassette and means 70 for isolating the pump from the handpiece to prevent creation of vacuum within the conduit 62 and the collection cassette 30 after receiving a stop signal.

Abstract: The present invention provides a surgical system 10 for aspiration of a biological material comprising a source of irrigation fluid 20, a collection cassette 30, a pump 40 for creating a vacuum in the collection cassette 30, a handpiece 50 applied to a surgical area for infusing irrigation fluid and for aspirating a biological material, conduits 60 and 62 connecting the handpiece to each of the source of irrigation fluid and the collection cassette and means 70 for isolating the pump from the handpiece to prevent creation of vacuum within the conduit 62 and the collection cassette 30 after receiving a stop signal.

Abstract: An aspiration flow resistor 10 includes an inlet 12 and an outlet 14. A housing 16 is connected to the inlet 12 and outlet 14. A series of spaced walls 18 are disposed between the inlet 12 and the outlet 14. The walls 18 and the inlet 12 and the outlet 14 together with the housing 16 define a plurality of aspiration flow chambers 22. As aspirant flows from the inlet 12 to the outlet 14, a pressure decrease in the aspirant flow occurs at each wall 18 to provide resistance to aspirant flow.

Abstract: A peristaltic pump 10 for use in ophthalmic surgery includes a housing 12, a pump head 14 having plurality of rollers 16, a backing plate 18 attached to the housing 12, and a length of surgical tubing 50. The rollers 16 and backing plate 18 cooperate to pinch the length of surgical tubing 50 to peristaltically pump fluids from a surgical site to a collection bag 64. At least one of the pump head 14 and the backing plate 18 is moveable, during operation of the pump 10, from a tubing pinched position to a tubing vent position. This movement allows the tubing 50 to be vented by removing the pinched closure of the tubing 50.

Abstract: A vitreous cutter 10 includes a plurality of vanes 14 rotatably attached within a housing 12. An inlet 16 receives pressurized fluid, which causes rotation of the vanes 14. An outlet 20 allows the pressurized fluid to exit the cutter 10. A cam 24 rotates upon rotation of the vanes 14, which causes reciprocal movement of a vitrectomy probe 28.

Abstract: A microkeratome cutting blade assembly 10 includes a cutting blade 12 attached to a blade holder 14. A blade extension 18 is controlled to within at least six (6) ten-thousandths of an inch of a tangent extension length.

Abstract: A microkeratome cutting blade assembly 10 includes a cutting blade 12 having a cutting edge 22 attached to a blade holder 14. When the assembly 10 is placed in a compatible cutting head 90, the cutting edge 22 is within a precision zone relative to the cutting head 90.

Abstract: An adjustable fluid flow resistor cassette 10 for use in ophthalmic surgery, includes a housing 12. A set of path restrictors 24 are disposed within the housing 12, and the restrictors 24 cooperate to vary a fluid flow path length from an inlet 16 to an outlet 18.

Abstract: A fluid flow resistor 10 for use in ophthalmic surgery includes a housing 12 having an inlet 14 and an outlet 16. An elongated turbine 22 is caused to spin within the housing 12 by a flow of fluid which extracts energy from the fluid flow and effectively increases a resistance to fluid flow from the inlet 14 to the outlet 16.

Abstract: An aspiration flow resistor 10 includes an inlet 12 and an outlet 14. A housing 16 is connected to the inlet 12 and outlet 14. A series of spaced walls 18 are disposed between the inlet 12 and the outlet 14. The walls 18 and the inlet 12 and the outlet 14 together with the housing 16 define a plurality of aspiration flow chambers 22. As aspirant flows from the inlet 12 to the outlet 14, a pressure decrease in the aspirant flow occurs at each wall 18 to provide resistance to aspirant flow.

Abstract: A fluid flow resistor 10 for use in ophthalmic surgery includes a housing 12 having an inlet 14 and an outlet 16. An elongated turbine 22 is caused to spin within the housing 12 by a flow of fluid which extracts energy from the fluid flow and effectively increases a resistance to fluid flow from the inlet 14 to the outlet 16.

Abstract: An adjustable fluid flow resistor 10 for use in ophthalmic surgery includes a housing 12, a first set of dividers 24, and a second set of dividers 28, contained without the housing 12. Fluid flow resistance is adjustable between a minimum when the apertures 26 and 30 of the first and second set of dividers 24 and 28 are aligned. The flow resistance increases as the apertures 26 of the first set of dividers 24 are positioned further away from the apertures 30 of the second set of dividers 28.

Abstract: An adjustable fluid flow resistor cassette 10 for use in ophthalmic surgery, includes a housing 12. A set of path restrictors 24 are disposed within the housing 12, and the restrictors 24 cooperate to vary a fluid flow path length from an inlet 16 to an outlet 18.